Apparatus for electroplating.



c. T. PRATT, APPARATUS FOR ELEGTROPLATING.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

WW/WWW JWVE'NTO (11a LIES T. PJETT ww fi ize No. 742,131. w

UNITED STATES Patented October 20, 1903.

PATENT OFFIC CHARLES T. PRATT, OF FRANKFORT, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO PRATTCHUCK COMPANY, OF FRANKFORT, NEW YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 742,131, dated October20, 1903.

,' Application filed July 6, 1903. Serial No. 164,320. (No model.)

To a, lUl'bOTTl/it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES T. PRATT, of Frankfort, in the county ofHerkimer and State of New York, have invented certain new 5 and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Electroplating; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to 7 make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of referencemarked thereon, which form part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide I electroplating apparatusparticularly intended for conveniently and expeditiously platingslip-nipples with zinc, with the bulk of the deposit on the interiorsurface.

Figure 1 of the drawings shows a vertical section of the bath-tank ofthe apparatus with the anode and a portion of the cathode-holder inposition therein, the cathode-holder being shown in section, taken onthe dotted line of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a portion 2 5 ofthe bath-tank in connection with the anode and cathode, the figure beingbroken to show various parts of the apparatus.

Referring to the reference letters and figures in a more particulardescription, 1 indi- 0 cates the bath-tank, which is provided with thepositive and negative current conductors .2 and 3, extending along theupper edge of its oppositesides. The anode-rack 4 consists of a numberof parallel bars extending across 3 5 the tank with connecting-bars ateach end and supported in the tank by means of hangers 5 and 6. Thehangers 5 and 6 are provided with hooks or turns at their upper endsadapted to engage with the edge of the tank, and

more particularly with the electrical conductors extending along theedge of the tank, and, as shown in the drawings, the anode-rack 4 isplaced in the electrical connection with the positive conductors 2 byhanger 5 and is held out of electrical connection with the negativemeans of a small bolt, so that they can be readily replaced after beingdissolved or so reduced in size as to be ineffective.

Directly on top of the anode-rack is placed a spacingboard 9, ofinsulating material, as hard rubber or wood. This board is provided withlarge openings which surround the anodes, respectively, having theanodes located centrally therein; 1 On top of the board 9 there issecured a sheet of metal 11, which has an opening corresponding withthose in the board, but of smaller diameter. The projecting edge of thesheet 11 at the openings mention'ed'is preferably slitted or notched,so'as to make a spring edge surrounding the opening. These openings areadapted to receive the ends of the slip-nipples A, which wedge inbetween the spring edges, and thereby become electrically connected withthe sheet 11. The sheet 11 is electrically connectedwith the conductor 3by means of the arm or hanger 12, which has a hook end engaged with theconductor.

In operation the tank is filled with asuitable bath or solution to' apoint so-that its surface will stand above the tops of the anodes.Electrical current is supplied by a suitable generator to the conductors2 and 3. The slip-nipples are placedin position by inserting them in theholes in the sheet 11, where they occupy a position around'the up perportion of the anodes and at a sufficientlyremoved distauce from theanode-frame to obviate short-circuiting at'this point. The anodes willof course dissolve and be deposited mostly on the interior surface ofthe'slipnipples, although some deposit will be found on the exteriorsurface, with an intermediate quantity of deposit directly on the endsor edges of the slip-nipple.

In this apparatus the nipples can readily be placed in position andremoved or reversed in their position in the holder. The anoderack andcathode-holding device can be readily removed from the tank forexamination and for applying new anodes; but in the regular cperationthe nipple will be placed and removed without removing the racks fromthe bath.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination in a plating apparatus of the bath-tank positive andnegative electric conductors, a rack suspended in the tank, havingupwardly-projecting, suitably-spaced anodes mounted thereon,andelectrically connected with the positive conductor, and a metal plateelectrically connected With the negative conductor, havingnipple-receiving openings positioned to receive the anodes centrallytherein, and supported above the anodeframe and intermediate ofthe height of the anodes, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination in a plating apparatus of the bath-tank, positive andnegative electrical conductors, a rack supported in the tank, havingupwardly-projecting, suitablyspaced anodes mounted thereon andelectrically connected with the positive conductor, and a board abovethe anode-rack, having enlarged openings receiving and surrounding theseveral anodes, and a metal plate electrically connected With thenegative conductor, having nipple-receiving opening, with surroundingedges projecting beyond the edges of the opening in the said board,substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have aflixed my signature, in presence of twoWitnesses, this 30th day of June, 1903.

CHARLES T. PRATT.

Witnesses:

W. J. MILLARD, MILO BROWN.

